Mars will Not be Closer to Earth this August
The Claim
The planet Mars will be much closer than usual to Earth this August, and may even be seen as large as the moon.
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Emerging story
Every year in the beginning of August since 2003, an image has been circulated on social media claiming that on August 27th Mars will be as big as the moon due to it coming closer to the Earth than at any future date until 2287. Now in 2020 the image is circulating again.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation into this claim reveals it to be false. This hoax has been debunked prior to August 27th every year, and again on that day when the event in question did not take place. It is true that on 27 August 2003 Mars was the closest to the Earth that it had been in 60,000 years and could be seen 85 times more brightly than usual. But it was not nearly as big as the moon, and since that date has resumed its normal size and brightness. This hoax is so common that it has a name: the “Mars Spectacular.” While the red planet is indeed spectacular, it is not as spectacular as claimed.
